Card selection mechanism and process



May 17, 1966 R. c. DAVIS CARD SELECTION MECHANISM AND PROCESS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 27, 1964 Co a: 48140 Jn/arma/ian Cara 6f a 5 y 17, 1966 R. c. DAVIS 3,251,362

CARD SELECTION MECHANISM AND PROCESS Filed July 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 xuzAzfeww United States Patent 3,251,362 CARD SELECTION MECHANISM AND PROCESS Reel C. Davis, Colorado Springs, Colo., assignor to Key- Data Systems, Pacific Palisades, Calif., a partnership Filed July 27, 1964, Ser. No. 385,385 2 Claims. (Cl. 129-161) The present invention relates to card sorting and/or selection mechanisms and processes; and it relates more particularly to an improved card sorting mechanism and process which makes it possible to select or separate one or more cards from a deck solely by gravity action and without the need for electrical or mechanical energy.

The sorting capabilities of the mechanism to be described are achieved in accordance with designations provided on the individual cards. These designations are in the form of notches disposed on the bottom edge of each card, the notches being positioned in relationship to different selected criteria. The criteria may be arranged in fields, and notches in each field relate the data on the particular card to the different criteria, as will be explained.

Card sorting mechanisms of the type to be described are useful in selecting cards from time to time for recording and indexing purposes. The sorting mechanism of the present invention is particularly advantageous in that it simultaneously processes all the cards for any particular selection operation, so that the desired card, or cards, may be selected on the basis of a single operation, rather than on the basis of a series of trial and error operations, as is generally the case in the prior art systems of this general The selection card sorting mechanism of the invention is constructed so that one or more sorting bars are pre-set to an up position. A selected deck of the notched cards is then placed with the notched edges extending across the bars. Only the cards in the deck which do have notches mating with the up bar will fall to a lower position of gravity, leaving the remainder of the cards in the deck in an upper.position. In the manner, and as mentioned above, the wanted card, or cards, may be selected on the basis of a single selection operation. That is, one or more cards are selected from the deck by means of simultaneous selection, whereby all the cards in the deck are checked simultaneously against certain criteria.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved card sorting/selecting process or mechanism of the type described briefly above, which process is simple to carry out and which mechanism is relatively simple and inexpensive in its construction.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be- .come apparent from a considerationof the following specification, when the specification is taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a mechanism constructed in accordance with the concepts of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the mechanism of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a front view of the mechanism of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the mechanism of 7 FIGURE 1, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially on the line 44 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a view, like FIGURE 1, but with the illustrated operating keys displaced to an actuated position;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged perspective view, showing various operating keys and key bars in the mechanism;

FIGURE 7 illustrates a typical card which may be sorted in the mechanism of the invention; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a deck The mechanism is constructed so that the placement ofa deck of edge-notched cards in the mechanism after it has been preset in accordance with certain criteria, will result in the displacement of one or more cards, by gravity,

from the remainder of the deck; the cards being only those which meet the criteria.

The cards are selectively notched along the bottom edge of each card, in accordance with certain criteria. For example, and as shown in FIGURE 7, the cards may each have representations corresponding to four fields disposed along the bottom edge.

Each field may represent, for example, a different classification. The individual cards are notched at positions A, B, C, or D, for example, in each field. In addition, different decks can be used in conjunction with the machine. Each deck may, for example, have a distinctive color.

For example, if the cards bear personnel records, the first'field may represent different salary ranges; the second field may represent diiferent job classifications; the third field may represent diiferent areas in the plant; and the fourth field may represent different age ranges. Then each deck may represent a different plant.

Each particular job may be represented by a difierent card, the cards being notched in the manner explained. Then, a particular card, representative of a particular job,

or a particular group of cards, selected in accordance with certain criteria, may be sorted out of the deck by the mechanism to be described.

When a particular card, or group of cards, is selected, in accordance with the predetermined criteria, one or more keys, corresponding to the diiferent criteria, are first actuated to a preset position. The actuation of the keys, as will be explained, causes corresponding selector bars to be raised. Then the selected deck is placed in the machine with the notched edges of its cards lying across the selector bars. The selected cards will drop to a displaced posi tion with respect to the remaining cards in the deck. This results in the instantaneous, single operation selection of the desired card, or cards.

Therefore, the cards in the deck are all simultaneously checked against allof one or more criteria. The criteria are established by edge notches, as explained above, at particular positions along the bottom edge of the cards.

When the selection is made, only the card, or cards, which meet all the criteria, will fall to the displaced position with respect to the remainder of the deck.

The mechanism to be described is eminently simple. No complicated control mechanism is used. Instead, a simple, manually operated mechanism serves to reset the selector bars. The actual card selection is carried out principally by gravity and without the need for expending electrical or mechanical energy, and without the need for concomitant expensive mechanisms.

Perhaps the paramount feature of the present invention, in addition to the ease with which it may be operated, and the rapidity by which any card or group of cards, answering selected criteria, may be obtained, is the inherent simplicity in the mechanism. This'means that mechanisms constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention may be manufactured at a low cost and sold at a low price.

As shown in FIGURES 1-6, for example, the mech anism includes a frame 10. The frame 10 includes a pair of side panels 12 and 14, and a rear panel 16. The

63 rear panel 16 is secured to the side panels Hand 14 by means of appropriate brackets 18 and 20.

The frame 10 also includes a pair of tie rods 24 and 26 which extend transversely across the frame between the side panels 12 and 14. A pair of spacer rods 28 and 30 also extend transversely across the frame between the side panels 12 and 14.

A front sill 32 is also mounted on the side panels 12 and 14 by brackets 34 and 36. The front sill 32 and rear panel 16 are configured, as shown, for example, in FIG- URES 4 and 5, so that a stack of cards 40 may be positioned between them as shown, for example, in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3. p

A plurality of selector bars 44 are positioned in the frame 10 between the rods 28 and 3t and in spaced and parallel relationship. The selector bars rest on corresponding key bars 46. The selector bars are coupled to the respective key bars by springs, such as the spring 48.

The selector bars 44 abut against the rods 28 and 30 so that they can only move reciprocally in a vertical direction. The key bars 46, on the other hand, are slidably mounted on a bottom plate 50 and move under the rods 28 and 30. The spring 48,'as shown, is wrapped around a boss 52 on the key bar 46 and is attached to the bottom plate 50.

Each key bar 46 is coupled to a return spring 54 which is attached to the rod 24. The key bars each have a notch 46a. The notches engage the edge of a latch member 58. The latch member is in the form of a strip which is bent around the rod 26 and around a second rod 60. The latter rod also extends across the frame 10.

Resilient pads 62, may be afiixed to the bottom of the strip 58 and rear panel 16. These pads form appropriate mounts for the unit.

The selector bars 44 and the key bars 46 are held in spaced relationship by disc-like spacers 64 on the rods 28 and 30. These spacers may be formed, for example, of plastic, metal, or any appropriate material.

The selector bars 44 and key bars 46 are shaped, so that whenever a key bar 46 is moved manually to the left from the position shown in FIGURE 4 to the position shown in FIGURE 5, the corresponding selector bar 44 is moved vertically upwardly, as shown.

When a key bar 46 is moved in the manner referred to in the preceding paragraph, its notch 46a may be latched to the member 58, as shown in FIGURE 5. The spring 48 holds the key bar down in the latched position. By moving the end of the key-bar upwardly, it may be unlatched, and the spring 54 will return it to its position of FIGURE 4.

Therefore, the manual drawing of the key bars 46 forward in a selective manner will cause selected ones of the selector bars 44 to move upwardly in a straight-line man'- ner. Selected key bars can be actuated in accordance with any given criteria to pre-set the mechanism.

Then the selected deck 40 of notched cards is placed across the selector bars. This will cause the cards which are to be separated to drop to a displaced position with respect to the other cards in the deck, as the notches of those cards mate with the displaced selector bars.

It will be appreciated that the improved mechanism of the invention is inherently simple and that it can be manufactured and sold at a relatively low price. This is because all sorting is achieved without the need for electrically or mechanically activated mechanisms. Instead, the insertion of a deck'of edge-notched cards in the mechanism will result in the displacement of one or more cards from the balance of the deck; the displaced cards being only those which meet the established criteria.

In addition, the improved mechanism of the invention is extremely easy to operate, and cards can be sorted and selected quickly on the basis of any established criteria. As mentioned, the selection of the desired cards is achieved without any need for repeated trial and error operations. Instead, all the cards in the deck are simultaneously checked against the particularl criteria, and any card meeting the criteria is immediately displaced from the deck.

While a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, modifications may be made. The following claims are intended to cover all mcdifications which fall within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A selective sorting mechanism for sorting a deck of cards, said cards respectively having sorting notches in the lower edge thereof, said notches being positioned along said lower edge in according with different criteria, said mechanism including: a frame; a plurality of selector bars horizontally mounted in said frame in spaced, parallel relationship for individual reciprocal vertical, straight-line motion with respect to said frame; a corresponding plurality of horizontal selecting keys slidably mounted in said frame under corresponding ones of said selector bars, said selecting keys and said selector bars respectively having engaging surfaces configured to cause said selector bars to be pre-set upwardly from a lower to an upper vertical position as corresponding ones of said selecting keys are moved horizontally from a first to a second position; individual latching means for holding said selecting keys in said second position; individual spring means for biasing said selecting keys to said first position; said frame having an open top to permit said deck of cards to be placed therein with the cards thereof in a vertical condition extending transversely to said selector bars and resting thereon, with the sorting notches in the lower edges of said cards aligned with respective ones of said selector bars; so that any of said cards having notches corresponding to all of said selector bars pre-set in said upper position will be displaced downwardly by gravity with respect to the remaining cards in said deck.

2. The selective sorting system defined in claim 1 and which includes individual spring means for biasing said selector bars to said lower position.

FOREIGN PATENTS 7/1912 France. 8/1946 Italy.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SELECTIVE SORTING MECHANISM FOR SORTING A DECK OF CARDS, SAID CARDS RESPECTIVELY HAVING SORTING NOTCHES IN THE LOWER EDGE THEREOF, SAID NOTCHES BEING POSITIONED ALONG SAID LOWER EDGE IN ACCORDING WITH DIFFERENT CRITERIA, SAID MECHANISM INCLUDING: A FRAME; A PLURALITY OF SELECTOR BARS HORIZONTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME IN SPACED, PARALLEL RELATIONSHIP FOR INDIVIDUAL RECIPROCAL VERTICAL, STRAIGHT-LINE MOTION WITH RESPECT TO SAID FRAME; A CORRESPONSING PLURALITY OF HORIZONTAL SELECTING KEYS SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME UNDER CORRESPONDING ONE OF SAID SELECTOR BARS, SAID SELECTING KEYS AND SAID SELECTOR BARS RESPECTIVELY HVING ENGAGING SURUFAC CONFIGURED TO CAUSE SAID SELECTOR BARS TO BE PRE-SET UPWARDLY FROM A LEVER TO AN UPPER VERTICAL POSITION AS CORRESPONDING ONES OF SAID SELECTING KEYS ARE MOVED HORIZONTALLY FROM A FIRST TO A SECOND POSITION; INDIVIDUAL LATCHING MEANS FOR HOLDING SAID SELECTING KEYS IN SAID SECOND POSITION; INDIVIDUAL SPRING MEANS FOR BIASING SAID SELECTING KEYS TO SAID FIRST POSITION; SAID FRAME HAVING AN OPEN TOP TO PERMIT SAID DECK OF CARDS TO BE PLACED THEREIN WITH THE CARDS THEREOF IN A VERTICAL CONDITION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY TO SAID SELECTOR BARS AND RESTING THEREON, WITH THE SORTING NOTCHES IN THE LOWER EDGES OF SAID CARDS ALIGNED WITH RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID SELECTOR BARS; SO THAT ANY OF SAID CARDS HAVING NOTCHES CORRESPONDING TO ALL OF SAID SELECTOR BARS PRE-SET IN SAID UPPER POSITION WILL BE DISPLACED DOWNWARDLY BY GRAVITY WITH RESPECT TO THE REMAINING CARDS IN SAID DECK. 